Keweenaw Issues

Keweenaw Issues: Anonymous Ranting: 2001: September

An archive of previous comments

By I’m Not Your Parents’ Darwin: Get To Know Me --Part 2 on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 02:40 am:

Random Imperfect Thoughts on Japheth’s Legacy: Darwin, Pythagoras and the Lost Theology of the West

It might be time to rethink religious eschatology.
Take the Pythagoreans, who bequeathed us western music and mathematics along with their belief in reincarnation.
Take Jesus, who believed that our “spiritual realm” was the stuff of “light”. When it comes to the real nature of “Matter”, perhaps some Darwinians(like Dawkins) have not been nearly “reductionist” enough(quantumly speaking, that is).
Have human minds always been spiritually collaborating with each other in subtle ways that modern scientific instruments are unable to record? Sympathetic resonance might be a key concept here.
Spiritual warfare, spirits and principalities…are these merely early descriptions of neurochemistry gone bad or genuine brain-mind realities? Think of the power of music alone and how it can change human moods(with no need of any modern prescription drug).
The Kingdom of Heaven is spread upon the Earth but we see it not(though what it “reflects” from--the Material World--we do see).
In the modern mass-media age, do our minds co-evolve in concert with what we freely choose to expose them to? Ever notice how much network time lately is devoted to promotional propaganda as opposed to actual creative content? If so, is free-will the most powerful force in reality?

From Wired.com, here’s an interesting scientific find that may reveal something important about the human soul’s real nature:

It's Teleportation -- For Real By Noah Shachtman 1:50 p.m. Sep. 28, 2001

Scientists have made the hard part of teleportation happen -- not on next week's episode of the new Star Trek series, but in a real-life lab in Denmark. But don't expect people or objects to be physically taken apart and recreated as they are on the Enterprise. Instead, it is information about this matter that's being moved from one place to the other.
The idea is that if quantum particles -- electrons, ions, atoms and the like -- have exactly the same properties, then they're essentially the same. So if the properties of the quantum particles making up an object are reproduced in another particle group, there would be a precise duplicate of the original object. Therefore, all that needs to be transmitted is the information about the particles' properties, not the particles themselves. "A teleportation machine would be like a fax machine, except that it would work on three-dimensional objects as well as documents. It would produce an exact copy rather than an approximate facsimile, and it would destroy the original in the process of scanning it," wrote quantum teleportation pioneer Charles Bennett on an IBM Research website. In findings released in the current edition of Nature, Eugene Polzik and his fellow physicists at the University of Aarhus in Denmark showed how they took steps to make this theory more concrete. Using a beam of light, Polzik's team told a 1 trillion-atom puff of caesium gas to take on one property -- the quantum "spin" -- of another. This kind of ultra-precise quantum correlation -- impossible to explain using classical physics -- is known as "entanglement." "The hard part of teleportation is achieving entanglement between system A and system B. That's what they've done here," California Institute of Technology physics professor Jeff Kimble said. "It's a necessary step towards teleportation." Kimble and other scientists have engaged in small-scale entanglement before, but only for a few atoms at a time, and only for very brief periods of time. These quantum states are delicate. And the more atoms involved, the more delicate the states become. Polzik's experiment is important, according to David Harrison, a professor of physics at the University of Toronto, because of its much larger scale and its duration; the Danish physicists kept their gases entangled for half a millisecond, an eternity in quantum time. "That's a huge technological achievement," Harrison said. Perhaps more important, IBM's Bennett said, is the ease with which the quantum information passed from the optical form (the beam of light) to the physical (the gas cloud.) Being able to reliably pass the information has been a major stumbling block in past entanglement exercises. But such safe transfers will be essential not only for far-out technologies like teleportation, but also for super-fast quantum computers -- machines that rely not on the black-and-white, two-dimensional world of ones and zeroes, but the infinitely grayer, multi-layered realm of quantum states.

Rhythmless Nation
The Taliban believes music is wrong. Musicians are paying the price
BY NADYA LABI
"God, everyone in this world has a lover except me," sings a woman. "Why is it so?" Her lament, in Persian, throbs over the speakers of a cab heading for Kabul, Afghanistan. An hour into the six-hour journey from neighboring Pakistan, the taxi driver abruptly switches cassettes, and chants of Koranic verse replace the pop song. Moments later, the car stops at a checkpoint. The wooden poles of the barrier are entwined with strips of confiscated audiotape and film, the loose ends flapping in the wind. A guard peers into the car and inspects the four passengers and driver before allowing them to proceed. "We are lucky," says the driver. "They could have beaten us all if they had found us listening to the music."
The Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue is on patrol. Its job is to eradicate sin, which, as defined by the totalitarian government of Afghanistan, includes simply listening to music. The Taliban, a collection of former theology students who took over Kabul in 1996, is best known for destroying ancient Buddhist statues, restricting the rights of women and allegedly harboring accused terrorist Osama bin Laden. It insists that there is a hadith (a record of the Prophet's sayings) warning people not to listen to music lest molten lead be poured into their ears on Judgment Day. Until then, the Taliban police are wreaking their own violence—against musical instruments and anyone who dares enjoy their use.
Religious songs with no instrumentation are exempted, as well as patriotic chants such as "Taliban, O Taliban, you're creating facilities, you're defeating enemies"—a bit of nationalistic verse that has received heavy play on Radio Shariat, the state-run station. Before the prohibition, sung Persian poems known as ghazals and instrumental Indian melodies called ragas were highly popular in Afghanistan. Concerts featuring such traditional instruments as the rubab (a short-necked lute) used to last for hours at celebratory occasions like weddings and births. Even Western pop made its way to Kabul in the 1970s, when the capital was host to an international rock festival sponsored by a cigarette company.
ABBA will survive the ban, but Afghan musicians fear some forms of music are threatened with extinction. The archives of traditional Afghan folk songs at Kabul Radio, for example, are being destroyed. The sounds of silence, after all, are more reassuring to many governments than voices that have the power to move, to persuade and to protest. In the Sudan, musicians cannot perform after dark; in a Nigerian state where Islamic law is followed, a musician was recently imprisoned for singing. "In much of the Third World, people cannot read or write," says Marie Korpe, executive director of Freemuse, a group in Denmark that monitors music censorship. "People listen to the radio, to songs. It is music that reaches people's hearts and souls." When music is muzzled, an outlet for self-expression is lost.
Zabi Sherki, 21, was jailed for singing with other revelers on his wedding night in Kabul. "We sang very quietly, but the police came inside and beat us," he says. Upon his release two months later, Sherki fled to Peshawar, Pakistan, and joined a band that plays at weddings. Those who cannot escape devise other ways to rebel. Shopkeepers sell cassettes on the black market, musicians bury their instruments for retrieval later, and drivers blare their stereos in remote areas. In a tiny flat in Kabul, with the shutters drawn, Naveeda crouches before a kerosene lamp and whispers the lyrics of a popular love song to her family—softly, so that no one will report her. "We're like dead people," says her brother Nadir. "When the evening comes, there's no electricity, no radio, no TV, no cinema."
Many Afghans refuse to keep quiet. In a cramped studio off a busy thoroughfare in Peshawar, a few musicians sitting on faded red carpets take up instruments while they await customers. On the walls are photos of the band's performances. Zar Wali smiles broadly as he begins to play the harmonium. "My beloved country," he sings in his native Pashto, "this Afghanistan, is very dear to me." The anthem is sweet—sweet enough to make him briefly forget that he is in Pakistan.
REPORTED BY HANNAH BLOCH/PESHAWAR AND GHULAM HASNAIN/KABUL

I'm Not Your Parents' Darwin: Get to Know Me

By Au Train Old Timer on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 01:32 am:

By Know Thine Enemy on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 11:31 pm:

September 30, 2001
PROFILES IN COWARDICE
Bin Laden's Journey From Rich Pious Lad to the Mask of Evil
By ROBERT D. McFADDEN

His face is everywhere and nowhere. He was born fabulously rich but is thought to live in desert caves. He seems a soft-spoken ascetic yet he could be the instigator of mass murder. He is an outcast from family, country and religion yet is beloved by millions for his holy war against America.
The myths and realities of Osama bin Laden swirl together like the smoke over the ruins of the World Trade Center and its thousands of dead. Who is this man?
To the United States government, the 44-year-old Saudi exile is the most wanted fugitive in history, the founder and leader of a terrorist network known as Al Qaeda (The Base), which has in a decade trained 5,000 or more militants in Sudan and Afghanistan and posted them to perhaps 50 countries to await their turn to strike. And strike they have, American officials assert, with bin Laden plans, money or inspiration behind the bombings of the trade center in 1993 (6 dead), two American embassies in Africa in 1998 (224 dead) and the destroyer Cole in Yemen in 2000 (17 dead), and the jetliners that collapsed the trade center towers, damaged the Pentagon and crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11 (more than 6,500 feared dead).
To millions of Americans, who have seen his face on television daily and on the magazine covers and front pages of newspapers, Mr. bin Laden is the mask of evil; in many minds he is already guilty of killing thousands, although he has not been found, let alone tried, and no evidence directly linking him with murder has been made public.
To millions in the Islamic world who hate America for what they regard as its decadent culture and imperial government, he is a hero who shunned the easy life to battle the infidels for Allah, who has justified killings with arcane interpretations of the Koran, and carried them out with encrypted e-mail, with plots stored on CD-ROM's and with cellphones and satellites to move money and men.

A Guest Under a War Cloud
To the Taliban, the extremist Islamic clerics who have ruled Afghanistan and given him haven since 1996, he is a friend, a spiritual and political ally and a source of money, but one whose presence has become a growing liability that threatens an American attack and their own power.
And to those closest to him, there is yet another man — the family man who takes his 3 wives and 15 children from cave to cave, moving every night or two, with dozens of bodyguards — one a bin Laden double — in a desert-roving caravan of land cruisers armed with missiles. They are thought to have spent much of their time in Afghanistan's mountainous central province of Oruzgan, north of Kandahar.
The story of Osama bin Laden is one of strange contradictions and turns that took him from a childhood of lofty privilege and education in Saudi Arabia to being galvanized by the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980's. Investigators say he went to Sudan for five years in the early 1990's to build his network and multiply his fortune, then back to Afghanistan, to wage his war.
Along the way, the young man — one of 52 children of an immigrant Yemeni bricklayer who became Saudi Arabia's richest building contractor — moved from boyish piety in Jidda to youthful carousing in the bars of Beirut, then back to Islamic fervor under a charismatic Palestinian university teacher.
Inherited wealth and religious zeal were his formative early pillars. Later there would be harsh emotions: outrage at Soviet invaders in Afghanistan, indignation over American support for Israel, anger at what he saw as Western imperialism, and finally a hatred of an America that, as he saw it, had used its power to oppress the people of Islam.
Investigators and intelligence officials say that these beliefs, supported by his wealth and religious fervor, were the basis for his decisions to oppose the Russians, to make alliances with radicals from Egypt and Pakistan, to rally young men from across the Islamic world to camps in Afghanistan, and there train them to use weapons, explosives, kidnapping, counterintelligence and other tactics, even flirting with chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, all with a single aim: to kill Americans.
Mr. bin Laden has denied ordering the deaths of anyone, although he had applauded attacks that have taken American lives as the work of dedicated soldiers of jihad.
Much of what is known about Mr. bin Laden has come from documents captured in raids on suspected terrorist operations, from Western agents who knew him in Pakistan in the 1980's when America aided the Afghan fight against the Soviets, and from testimony by former bin Laden associates, some defectors from his cause, others defendants on trial for terrorism in the United States, all of them seeking leniency or new identities in witness protection programs.
It is an unfinished portrait. As some trial testimony indicated, the image of Mr. bin Laden that has loomed in the American psyche — of an enemy possessing a sophisticated global reach and followers willing to die for the cause — was far from complete. Indeed, the testimony showed a group torn by strife, greed and banalities, and a leader who had cronies, quibbled over pay scales, lacked political and organizational skills and may have profited from opium. And much evidence suggested a loose organization of terrorists who may have no idea who the leader is or where the plans come from.
Osama bin Laden (rhymes with sadden) was born in 1957 in Saudi Arabia, the 17th of 24 sons in a family of immigrants. His mother was Syrian or Palestinian, one of many wives of Mohammed bin Oud bin Laden, who came from neighboring Yemen in 1932 and, through friendship with the country's founder, King Abdel Aziz al-Saud, won contracts to build the infrastructure of roads and refurbish the shrines at Mecca and Medina, Islam's holiest places. The Saudi Binladen Group today has 35,000 employees worldwide and $5 billion in assets.
Osama was 11 or 12 when his father died in a plane crash near San Antonio in 1968. It is unclear how much he inherited — reports vary from $20 million or $80 million to as high as $300 million — but he was wealthy beyond dreams as a boy. He grew tall and lean — eventually reaching 6 feet 5 inches — and towered over classmates and friends.
Like most Saudis, the bin Laden family belonged to the puritanical Wahhabi sect of Sunni Muslims. By most accounts, Osama was a pious boy, attending Islamic classes and private school, although he was never an incisive Islamic scholar. As a teenager, he is said to have flown often to Beirut, where he partied in casinos and nightclubs, chased women and got into occasional brawls.
At 18, he enrolled in King Abdel Aziz University in Jidda and studied civil engineering with the idea of joining his family business. He also listened to taped lectures of an influential teacher, Abdullah Azzam, a Palestinian major figure in the Muslim Brotherhood, which is dedicated to resurgent Islamic faith, and the experience deepened Mr. bin Laden's religious commitment.
In 1979, the year he graduated, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, and the 22-year-old Mr. bin Laden took his first step into the realm of holy war. Like thousands of young Arabs, he joined in spirit with the Afghan resistance, in outrage at the invasion as a violation of Islamic territory. It was, to Mr. bin Laden and others, an offense against God.
Mr. bin Laden did not take up a rifle. Instead, he raised money and supplies for Afghan fighters, known as mujahedeen. He raised huge sums from oil-rich Arabs in Persian Gulf states, contributed millions from his own fortune and even brought in heavy equipment from his family's company to help build camps, tunnels, military depots and roads for the Afghan forces. Some of the camps were available to him years later as training grounds for Al Qaeda recruits.
"He's not very sophisticated politically or organizationally," said a former bin Laden associate whose nom de guerre was Abdullah Anas. "But he's an activist with great imagination. He ate very little. He slept very little. Very generous. He'd give you his clothes. He'd give you his money."

A Man the West Could Use
In 1984, Mr. bin Laden moved to Peshawar, Pakistan, where he was known to some of the American and French agents who were intriguing to manipulate the Afghan cause to their countries' advantage. He also joined Abdullah Azzam, whose taped lectures had influenced him at the university, in forming Makhtab al Khadimat, a group that recruited and trained Muslim volunteers from Egypt, Algeria and other countries to fight in the Afghan war.
The Central Intelligence Agency was funneling arms and money to the mujahedeen, and some of the aid may have gone to the Makhtab al Khadimat. It was to play a major role in raising the concept of global holy war to a reality over the next decade, eventually becoming the organization known as Al Qaeda.
Mr. Azzam wanted the organization to support the Afghan cause exclusively, but Mr. bin Laden sympathized with many Muslims who saw Western perils in their homelands and embraced the idea of wider jihad, or holy war. Many urged Mr. bin Laden to keep the organization alive after the Afghan-Soviet war.
Among those courting him were a group of radicals belonging to the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which helped to assassinate President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt in 1981. The group advocated the overthrow of governments by terrorism and violence, and one of its key figures, Ayman al-Zawahiri, became Mr. bin Laden's chief associate and a leader of Al Qaeda.

Business and Bioweapons
In 1986, according to intelligence officials, Mr. bin Laden began to chart an independent course, setting up his own training camp for 50 Persian Gulf Arabs who lived in separate tents. He called the camp Al Masadah, The Lion's Den. A year later, the Afghan-support organization divided and in 1988 Mr. bin Laden and the Egyptians formed Al Qaeda.
By 1989, Afghanistan had become a deadly quagmire for Moscow, which was forced to withdraw. Intoxicated by their triumph in Afghanistan, Mr. bin Laden and other volunteers returned to their homelands, eager to apply the principles of jihad wherever they seemed needed. The Koran sets strict limits on holy war, but the Afghan veterans were guided by their own radical interpretations.
Back in Saudi Arabia, Mr. bin Laden was indignant with corruption in the government and became enraged when King Fahd let American forces, with their rock music and Christian and Jewish troops, wage the Persian Gulf war from Saudi soil in early 1991. After the conflict he moved back to Afghanistan, but did not stay long. He told associates that Saudi Arabia had hired Pakistani operatives to kill him; there was never any confirmation.
Still, Mr. bin Laden moved in 1991 to the Sudan, where a militant Islamic government had taken power. Over the next five years, he may have multiplied his fortune by building an organization that combined business with holy war under the umbrella of Al Qaeda.
Jamal Ahmed al-Fadl, who described himself as Mr. bin Laden's paymaster and one of his original band of followers, told a federal court in Manhattan last February that Al Qaeda was a highly efficient pyramid, comparable to a modern corporation, with a finance committee, investments, a network of profitable ventures, even an in-house propaganda newspaper.
Mr. Anas, the former associate of Al Qaeda, said an Iraqi operative of Mr. bin Laden tried to buy enriched uranium in Europe for a nuclear weapon. When that failed, he said, Mr. bin Laden began experiments with chemical and biological warfare.
American agents first came upon the global ambitions of Mr. bin Laden in 1993 while investigating the World Trade Center bombing. The evidence of direct involvement by Mr. bin Laden is not conclusive, but investigators insist that the four bombers and their spiritual leader, Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, had financial or technical help from Mr. bin Laden or were inspired by him.
In 1994, disturbed by Mr. bin Laden's growing extremism, Saudi Arabia revoked his citizenship and his family disowned him. Islamic leaders in other countries, offended by his use of the religion to justify murder, disavowed him. It hardly mattered to Mr. bin Laden, who had a large fortune and growing organization.
By then, American officials regarded Mr. bin Laden as a stateless sponsor of terrorism.Washington pressed Sudan to expel Mr. bin Laden, and in 1996 they succeeded. Mr. bin Laden went back to Afghanistan, where a new group of Islamic radicals, the Taliban, had just taken control after years of war.
Mr. bin Laden was welcomed. Some of the cash the Taliban used to buy off local warlords came from Mr. bin Laden, American investigators said, and soon the hard-line government in Kabul was allowing him to use their country as what Mr. Ana called "one jihad camp for the world."

By D. Berry on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 11:06 pm:

Alexander, For us shut-ins, could you be a little more specific? Thanks.

By Alexander Aggasiz on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 08:14 pm:

I see the good ole boys are at it again. Told ya all the Gratiot River purchase was a front for something bigger. Wonder what twelvth hour easement has been added to the deal? Who will it benefit? Who requested it? If ya live in the county, time to vote in some new people. Just a good ole boys, never meaning no harm, just line our pockets with gold.

By moi on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 08:16 pm:

Speedtrap had odd views in the past, but now he/she is making good sense. Back off, and appreciate it.

By talk is cheap on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 02:41 pm:

SpeedTrap,

Put your money where your mouth is--go enlist.

By SpeedTrap on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 01:07 pm:

This "skepticism" of going to war is not new--pacifism reared its traitorous head at the bombing of Pearl Harbor. So, if it wasn't for brave, courageous souls, with faith in America, who fought the War and won, we would not have the freedom to start all over again. I'm trying to see what the contribution of the Phil Donohues, Jane Fondas, Prof Jensen, TX., etc. are to this present situation, other than dividing a country, giving our enemies ammunition and what they say is--What is wrong with bombing the World Trade Center and killing 6,000+ people. Just love them. Da! I think we should drop these yellow bellies on some deserted island so they can create the perfect world.

America is the shining light of freedom in the world--and why, because we fought for it..Fly the Flag. Also, the Clergy should remember that God crushed Israels' enemies (Old Testament) to save His chosen people. And, keep politics out of the pulpit, it has no place there. If it's love we want to share with the world, then let's go to Hollywood. They give us collateral damage everyday and have corrupted more people with their perverted, evil, violent movies and TV. Funny why they said you can't fly the flag, it gives a bad image, you can't show the bombings of the World Trade Center, it gives an emotional downer, BUT, none of the movies, video games, TV is supposed to have one impression on us. Whoa, are we dumb??

By Cheryl on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 08:48 pm:

Back to you ....
>>> Some very excellent advice from a pilot who resumed flying last
> weekend....
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> Source: Washington Times
>>> Published: 9/19/01 Author: Peter Hannaford
>>>
>>> As it was at most U.S. airports, last Saturday was the
>>> first near-normal day at Denver International since
>>> the terrorist attacks. On United's Flight 564 the door
>>> had just been locked and the plane was about to pull
>>> out of the gate when the captain came on the public
>>> address system.
>>> "I want to thank you brave folks for coming out
>>> today. We don't have any new instructions from the
>>> federal government, so from now on we're on our own."
>>> The passengers listened in total silence.
>>> He explained that airport security measures had
>>> pretty much solved the problem of firearms being
>>> carried aboard, but not weapons of the type the
>>> terrorists apparently used, plastic knives or those
>>> fashioned from wood or ceramics.
>>> "Sometimes a potential hijacker will announce
>>> that he has a bomb. There are no bombs on this
>>> aircraft and if someone were to get up and make that
>>> claim, don't believe him.
>>> "If someone were to stand up,brandish something
>>> such as a plastic knife and say 'This is a hijacking'
>>> or words to that effect here is what you should do:
>>> Every one of you should stand up and immediately throw
>>> things at that person - pillows, books, magazines,
>>>
>>> eyeglasses, shoes anything that will throw him off
>>> balance and distract his attention. If he has a
>>> confederate or two, do the same with them. Most
>>> important: get a blanket over him, then wrestle him to
>>> floor and keep him there. We'll land the plane at the
>>> nearest airport and the authorities will take it from
>>> there."
>>> "Remember, there will be one of him and maybe a
>>> few confederates, but there are 200 of you. You can
>>> overwhelm them.
>>> "The Declaration of Independence says 'We, the
>>> people' and that's just what it is when we're up in
>>> the air: we, the people, vs. would-be terrorists. I
>>> don't think we are going to have any such problem
>>> today or tomorrow or for a while, but some time down
>>> the road, it is going to happen again and I want you
>>> to know what to do.
>>> "Now, since we're a family for the new few hours,
>>> I'll ask you to turn to the person next to you,
>>> introduce yourself, tell them a little about yourself
>>> and ask them to do the same."
>>> The end of this remarkable speech brought
>>> sustained clapping from the passengers. He had put the
>>> matter in perspective. If only the passengers on those
>>> ill-fated flights last Tuesday had been given the same
>>> talk, I thought, they might be alive today. One group
>>> on United Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania
>>> field, apparently rushed the hijackers in an attempt
>>> to wrest control from them. While they perished, they
>>> succeeded in preventing the terrorist from attacking
>>> his intended goal, possibly the White House or the
>>> Capitol.
>>> Procedures for dealing with hijackers were
>>> conceived in a time when the hijackers were usually
>>> seeking the release of jailed comrades or a large
>>> amount of money. Mass murder was not their goal. That
>>> short talk last Saturday by the pilot of Flight 564
>>> should set a new standard of realism.
>>> Every passenger should learn the simple but
>>> potentially life-saving procedure he outlined. He
>>> showed his passengers that a hijacking does not have
>>> to result in hopelessness and terror, but victory over
>>> the perpetrators.
>>> The Airline Pilots Association, the pilots'
>>> union, last week dropped its opposition to stronger
>>> cockpit doors and is now calling for retrofits. (It's
>>> opposition was based on pilot concerns about getting
>>> out easily in emergency situations.) The scandal of
>>> easily penetrated airport security will result in
>>> congressional calls for a federal takeover of the
>>> security system.
>>> Previous efforts to reform security procedures
>>> and raise standards have been talked to death. This
>>> time, however, no lobbying efforts must be allowed to
>>> prevent airport security from getting the reforms that
>>> are needed: federal operation, rigorous training,
>>> decent pay and no foreign nationals eligible for
>>> employment.
>>>
>>> Peter Hannaford is a public affairs consultant.you.....

By Back to you, Janey on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 04:47 pm:

Operation Unlimited Chutzpah is working, reports this cub reporter! Early this afternoon, Tree-Line Airlines Flight 549 landed successfully after a terrorist attempted to takeover the flight.

Tree-Line Airlines was the first to install locking cockpit doors, double-bored, for
dead-bolt and lockset (the dead-bolt requires a key on both sides). And they also armed their pilot, one Joe-Joe Fenguzzi, with a cap and ball pistol (just in case).

O! It was glorious! The terrorist jumped up from his seat in the cabin--he was brandishing a knife.
Though he demanded to be allowed entry to the cockpit, Joe-Joe adamantly refused. Joe-Joe calmly ignored the terrorists ranting (and the passengers screams) as he piloted the plane to its destination (on time) where upon landing, the terrorist (the only one living in the passenger cabin) was arrested and taken from the plane.

Authorities are trying to come to terms with a solution that would keep passengers alive.

By guessing on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 04:31 pm:

The Isrealis do the locked cockpit and not opened until the plane is on the ground.

I don't think it would be that hard to make the cockpit much more secure than it is now..

If the threat is open the door or blow the plane..considering what happened 9/11 what choice would you pick?

A plane can make an emergency landing real quick if necessary...

By Ms. V. - St. Paul, MN on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 02:10 pm:

Hi, all. The only problem with no carry-on luggage on flights is that if they lose it, you have no clothes or personal items. Happened to me before (thank you Northworst) and it was interesting to wear my mother's clothes, which not only didn't fit - but considering she is 36 years older than I am - didn't really look right, either. Personally, I began hating flying back when it got diregulated (remember that one, folks?). For me, its my car or the train. Does it sound like I don't care about safety? Not at all. Until safety = efficiency, its gonna be a long time before the public will want to travel again. Got a trip planned to Detroit - my mother wants me to fly - but quite frankly, after dealing with security and being at the airport days early, I'm better off taking the train. The time factor ends up being not a whole lot different when all is said and done. Its either that, or I won't go.
Don't know if you had elections scheduled on 09/11 - we did here in St. Paul. I could go and buy a flag and waive it, but what I really want to know is how many eligible voters went to the polls that day. I decided it would be more patriotic to vote. Remember, the flag can be burned, but the spirit cannot be extinguished.

By pampered on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 01:30 pm:

D. Berry,

As unpopular as this may seem, I would not allow carry on luggage--or at least not let passengers have access to it while in flight. Obviously some exceptions would have to be made for diaper bags, medical necessities, handbags, laptops, etc., which would have to be thoroughly hand-inspected before being brought on board.

I am also in favor of one or more plainclothes sky marhals aboard every flight.

And I think that once the captains are in the cockpit, the door should be securely locked and not reopened until the aircraft has safely landed and all crew and passengers have departed the plane and are back in the terminal.

I'm also not convinced that any of these measures can stop a madman from hijacking a plane if he is determined to do so, but would probably be more for the benefit of restoring the confidence (false security?) of the flying public.

By D. Berry on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 12:49 pm:

pampered, Good observation. Given that hijacking situations themselves can be lethal to newborns and everyone else, perhaps some reasonable solution to this dilemma could be found.

By pampered on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 09:57 am:

D. Berry,

My guess is that it would be extremely difficult to uniformly release a "dosage" of tranquilizing gas that would be effective enough to "knock out" a 200 pound man and not be lethal to a newborn.

By Humanist on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 09:07 am:

Darwin,

Regarding Stephen Jay Gould, he appeared in the first segment of the PBS series on evolution last night. What a great television program! With all the junk on TV, its reassuring to see that some folks still produce quality programming. The first segment dramatized Darwin's life as he wrote, and finally published, On the Origin of Species, and the initial reactions to his work. The show did not ignore religious objections to Darwin's work--it contained some eloquent speeches by religious figures of the day who opposed him. The show also portrayed the prominent role that the protestant faith played in the life of Darwin and his family.

If any of you have a chance to watch TV this week, you could not do better than to watch the remaining segments of this series. My children, too, found the first segment fascinating, and will be watching the rest of the series with me.

By D. Berry on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 08:43 am:

Scott, I too have often wondered why tranquilizing gas isn't used routinely in hostage situations. Maybe in some cases it's technically too difficult, but surely not in pressurized aircraft. Too expensive?

By Scott on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 07:27 am:

MY 2 Cents, By Scott
Yes, I am for arming the pilots, but, I also have another idea, here it is...
Make the cockpit doors secure. Now as we all know, nothing is totally secure. But, if they could be made to fend off an intrusion for at least ten minutes...OK?
Then, equip all planes with a type of system that could spray a tranquilizing gas into the cabin that would render everyone, yes everyone in the cabin, unconsious for at least two hours. This would give the pilots enough time to land the plane safely, allow the authorities to board, and arrest/apprehend the suspects.
Too Simple ?

By I'm Not Your Parent's Darwin: Get To Know Me on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 03:34 am:

A Time of Gifts
By STEPHEN JAY GOULD
The patterns of human history mix decency and depravity in equal measure. We often assume, therefore, that such a fine balance of results must emerge from societies made of decent and depraved people in equal numbers. But we need to expose and celebrate the fallacy of this conclusion so that, in this moment of crisis, we may reaffirm an essential truth too easily forgotten, and regain some crucial comfort too readily forgone. Good and kind people outnumber all others by thousands to one. The tragedy of human history lies in the enormous potential for destruction in rare acts of evil, not in the high frequency of evil people. Complex systems can only be built step by step, whereas destruction requires but an instant. Thus, in what I like to call the Great Asymmetry, every spectacular incident of evil will be balanced by 10,000 acts of kindness, too often unnoted and invisible as the "ordinary" efforts of a vast majority.We have a duty, almost a holy responsibility, to record and honor the victorious weight of these innumerable little kindnesses, when an unprecedented act of evil so threatens to distort our perception of ordinary human behavior. I have stood at ground zero, stunned by the twisted ruins of the largest human structure ever destroyed in a catastrophic moment. (I will discount the claims of a few biblical literalists for the Tower of Babel.) And I have contemplated a single day of carnage that our nation has not suffered since battles that still evoke passions and tears, nearly 150 years later: Antietam, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor. The scene is insufferably sad, but not at all depressing. Rather, ground zero can only be described, in the lost meaning of a grand old word, as "sublime," in the sense of awe inspired by solemnity.In human terms, ground zero is the focal point for a vast web of bustling goodness, channeling uncountable deeds of kindness from an entire planet — the acts that must be recorded to reaffirm the overwhelming weight of human decency. The rubble of ground zero stands mute, while a beehive of human activity churns within, and radiates outward, as everyone makes a selfless contribution, big or tiny according to means and skills, but each of equal worth. My wife and stepdaughter established a depot on Spring Street to collect and ferry needed items in short supply, including face masks and shoe inserts, to the workers at ground zero. Word spreads like a fire of goodness, and people stream in, bringing gifts from a pocketful of batteries to a $10,000 purchase of hard hats, made on the spot at a local supply house and delivered right to us.I will cite but one tiny story, among so many, to add to the count that will overwhelm the power of any terrorist's act. And by such tales, multiplied many millionfold, let those few depraved people finally understand why their vision of inspired fear cannot prevail over ordinary decency. As we left a local restaurant to make a delivery to ground zero late one evening, the cook gave us a shopping bag and said: "Here's a dozen apple brown bettys, our best dessert, still warm. Please give them to the rescue workers." How lovely, I thought, but how meaningless, except as an act of solidarity, connecting the cook to the cleanup. Still, we promised that we would make the distribution, and we put the bag of 12 apple brown bettys atop several thousand face masks and shoe pads. Twelve apple brown bettys into the breach. Twelve apple brown bettys for thousands of workers. And then I learned something important that I should never have forgotten — and the joke turned on me. Those 12 apple brown bettys went like literal hot cakes. These trivial symbols in my initial judgment turned into little drops of gold within a rainstorm of similar offerings for the stomach and soul, from children's postcards to cheers by the roadside. We gave the last one to a firefighter, an older man in a young crowd, sitting alone in utter exhaustion as he inserted one of our shoe pads. And he said, with a twinkle and a smile restored to his face: "Thank you. This is the most lovely thing I've seen in four days — and still warm!"
Stephen Jay Gould, a professor of zoology at Harvard, is the author of "Questioning the Millennium."

By Pentagonal Perspective on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 11:14 pm:

If you have Real Audio and want to know what direction America really might be headed in, here’s a 35 minute straight-talking Press Conference well–worth listening to that your Nightly News didn’t have time to cover today:

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s 9/25 Press Conference

By Nick Adams on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 09:52 pm:

Your criticism of lax airport security is well-warranted, Curious Again, and I suggest you take it up with the FAA or Tom Ridge. But since you are currently living large in LA(last I heard anyway), perhaps you can find some temporary faith and comfort in these words spoken there over 30 summers ago(we have all been here before):

‘The harsh facts of the matter are that we stand on this frontier at a turning point in history. We must prove all over again whether this nation—or any nation so conceived—can long endure; whether our society—with it’s freedom of choice, it’s breadth of opportunity, it’s range of alternatives—can compete with the single-minded advance of…’

…of…of something akin, I guess, to what we all witnessed in horror on 9/11/2001.

Sweet dreams, Realist. And never let it be said that I wouldn’t give you the time of day.

By Curious again on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 07:55 pm:

Here's another odd linkage, Nick, that you should read in light of what I've already said:

What is America's response to terrorists taking over four flights in one day?

Let's give pilots handguns.

I'm sure the flying public is reassured. As I said before, how was it that two people on an FBI list were able to even board a plane before being arrested (they were taken from the plane and even a traffic stop is an arrest)?

What is America's response?

Well, we can rest assured that the 102nd Fighter Wing out of Otis will shoot down any passenger plane that dares wag the tail of the big dog.

Comforting. As I said, I'm sure the flying public is reassured. I'm sure the terrorists will stop buying plane tickets.

By Nick Adams on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 06:19 pm:

Your inability to enunciate clearly what you really mean speaks for itself, Curious, as do your odd linkages concerning this terrorist attack to the Klamath River, abortion and Mohammed Ali in the 1960's. Perhaps my excessive skull density mistook your fatalistic despair about it being "already too late" for detached bemusement. If so, I apologize.
Back to work.

By Curious enough on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 05:12 pm:

Surely, Nick, it may very well be too late, which is what I've said, though your skull may be too dense to penetrate to the inner sanctum of your armchair snug in the ivory tower of your conceit.

Surely, they have a "game plan" and our lack of concern, exhibited by the obvious evidence of the flying public's refusal to believe our nation has secured out airlines, shows how much faith Americans have in our country.

I've heard elsewhere that the price of gas-masks is going up. Another indication of the faith of the people here? I've said our country has been wounded, and that the wound isn't being tended to--and you seem to believe that a
shake-down cruise on the way to behead the terrorists (what about those in this country) is going to protect this country?

CNN recently portrayed an individual in a turban walking his post, with rifle at shoulder, around a water wheel. In this country, we have our priorities in the wrong place, as federal officials are standing guard in the Klamath Basin, protecting water that American farmers need for their livelihood.

Maybe the Brits will capture OBL, with four men, and we can all begin to rest easier.

bemused detachment? Don't quit your day job.

By Nick Adams on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 02:27 pm:

Not Curious Enough:
Though I find your bemused detachment about these matters sadly nihilistic("Nothing really matters. Reality is just one big video game that appears to me on a cathode-ray screen etc etc"), all you are really saying is that we live in an imperfect world. What we have now is good reason and the will to effectively act on that intelligence and try to prevent further catastrophic attacks on the civilized world.
If the official press dispatches of Bin Laden and Hussein are to be believed, the orchestrators of terrorism have a game plan. They want to draw us into a Holy War and raise up the Muslim masses from Indonesia to Tunisia to exterminate we infidels. Now as we know, no War is "Holy"(though some are just and inescapable). I've no doubt that the political and military leaders of this country are well aware that this is the trap they are trying to set for the West and there will be no falling for it. There will however be concerted action against those who breed and export terrorism because if we just on our hands and whine to our therapists about how imperfect the world is, they will simply ratchet it up to the next notch(bio or nuclear weapons) and then it may well be too late.

By a connected folk on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 12:09 pm:

I have been getting emails with viruses attached this week also. Didn't open to figure out which viruses, looks like some are the Melissa virus. I did pick up the one of the Trojan viruses late last week just viewing a website.
They are running rampant. Keep your virus programs updated!!

By Nick Adams on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 11:47 am:

Virus alert for U.P. connected folk: the sircam32.exe email attachment viruses seem to be on the upswing again as I received two of them this morning after not seeing one for about a month. If you receive any email(reading: "Hi! How are you! blah blah blah") with an attachment, do not open this attachment as it will suckerpunch your hard drive with the sircam virus. As I understand it, they are spread computer to computer by being automatically emailed from the Windows Address Book to anyone on your list. One way of stopping the spread of this virus is to make a paper or diskette copy of your email addresses and keep your online Address Book empty.

By Not curious enough on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 06:26 am:

So what you are saying, Nick, is that we are suddenly blessed with an abundance of intelligence on the whereabouts of these terrorists?

Gosh, to think of the lives that could have been saved had we had this intelligence only two weeks ago!

Muslims are burning effigies of President Bush in Pakistan. I think the last time we saw that was in Iran, shortly before the terrorists there took Americans hostage.

(I wonder if the USA will still be funding IRA terrorists?)

By former yooper on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 04:47 pm:

Nick,

Amen to that - also we need to scare the do-do out of them (if we can) these people want to die so we can't intimidate them that way.

Maybe we need to send in the special forces and make some of the men disappear (while leaving others in the next bunk alone) and plant "surprises" for them on the roads, etc...

By Nick Adams on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 01:34 pm:

You are not nearly curious enough, Curious. It has been well known for years that there are extensive inter-communicating terrorist networks numbering in the "many of thousands"(to use Colin Powell's phrase). We aren't going after "one" man as recent U.S. policy statements have clearly stated over and over. Did you even listen to Thursday night's Address to the Nation from the Capitol Building(which was likely the 4th terrorist target of September 11 were it not for the selfless extraordinary heroics of a brave few)? And we are indeed going after Nation-States that sponsor and harbor terrorists. And it's not going to be some crude brute force slam-bam sorry Ma'am response either, but a long campaign that will slowly but thoroughly "uproot"(to use another one of Mr. Powell's phrases) these extensive networks. We are not going after one "lone nut" but rather thousands of determined fanatical warriors who have been given money, refuge and State intelligence by several countries in the region including Syria, Iraq, Sudan and Iran over the last quarter century at least. There is already solid evidence that Iraqi intelligence helped to orchestrate the first attempt at toppling the Twin Towers in 1993, and they were likely involved at some level on the September 11 attack as well. Much of this is blow-back from the 1991 Gulf War when the U.N. dictated the goals of the coalition and American hands were tied. That isn't going to be the case this time because the attack was directly on us(not Kuwait).

By Curious three on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 12:43 pm:

Curious too,
It does seem like our country has been doing more reacting, and reacting in the manner we are familiar with: War is our business. Business is good.

Take, for example, the recent developments about the terrorists looking into crop-dusting planes. Was there any "security" there, where those type of planes are based, any security there before we learned that the terrorists had crop-dusting manuals in their possession?

Surely the government could refer to their actions in the Klamath Basin and the headgates there where federal officials (15 at last count) have been poster to deter the American citizens there who want irrigation water for their family farms.

.d.
Any idea on what the Gazette building was used for before it became a newspaper office?
Was it a J.C. Penney's? And before that?

By .d. on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 11:40 am:

OK...Bohemia up for sale...As a "whole skihill" ??
I take it the land is still leased...
Here's proof for all you Lonnie lovers...I TOLD YA SO !!! Should also read about the "lonnieLands" we have here downstate...

By Curious too on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 06:56 am:

Yes, Curious, I see you have a point. In fact, one should ask why two people on the FBI's list were removed from American Airlines Flight 886 in Austin. I'm sure the flying public feels safe.

Then one needs to ask how they were able to board the plane in the first place.

By Curious on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 06:23 am:

CNN reported that the Florida tourism industry has been down some $20 million dollars a day since 9-11. And we have sent our Armed Forces away from our homeland for a mission that is best left unknown. A country did not commit murder on our soil; terrorists did. The terrorists entered our country and they had been here for some time. Reports indicate there are others in this country.

Our penchant for protection has been vetoed by our lust for revenge. Does it really take a massive mobilization to bring one man to justice? In the 1960s,the Israelis found a Nazi in South America. They sent in a group of people that captured him and brought him to Israel, without the aid of an aircraft carrier with 5,000 aboard. It has been reported that a British SAS team of four has a tentative location on OBL, again, without the presence of thousands of troops.

Meanwhile, President Bush and Congress will throw a billion or two at the airlines to shore up their business and their expense of tightened security. Based on what CNN reported about the Florida economy, it sounds like our military is in the wrong location. If the economy were crippled, one would think the wound would be tended to. OBL can't board a plane while he is in Afghanistan. Over and over again, as evidence has been gathered, we have heard one expression: They didn't look like terrorists. They looked like yuppies. They had been in our country for a long time, not overseas, hiding in a cave.

Judging by the public response (they are refusing to fly) we need to ask again who is displaying a lack of empathy for victims. It is difficult to imagine the victims, in heaven, screaming for vengeance. It is easy to imagine them shedding tears in heaven because their friends and families are fearful of flying because the perception is our country is not doing enough in this country to prevent a similar tragedy.

Will it take a small plane with crop-dusting capabilities to prove the point?

By AtlanticMine on Sunday, September 23, 2001 - 11:55 pm:

Just heard that Mt.Bohemia is going to be up for sale on the QT.Another rich boy Lonnie investment.Check out the Canadian sites on his last one.The now defunct football league.Not flattering.
Too bad that Keweenaw county did not preserve an ancient historical site and now it is gone.
Dah!

By Nick Adams on Sunday, September 23, 2001 - 12:31 pm:

I have no grievance with you or your post, Curious. The cultural bubble of 90's narcissism and cynicism has burst(at least temporarily)and Mark Twain's satirical poem(as much as I enjoy his writing), just seems as inappropriate and condescending to me now as some uninvited stand up comic kibitzing a NYC funeral procession.

By Curious on Sunday, September 23, 2001 - 06:40 am:

Nick,
I believe President Bush offered these two options:
1) You are either with us.
or
2) You are with the terrorists.

Surely you are capable of understanding there may actually be people in this country who would be torn by Sophie's Choice.

At any rate, forgive me for voicing what I am certain other people are thinking.

By Country Fiddler on Sunday, September 23, 2001 - 02:48 am:

Goodnight Sweet Sweet Prince:

By Jack O'Lantern on Sunday, September 23, 2001 - 01:31 am:

Here's a haunting image from Keweenaw's past:

By Something to Consider on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 11:31 pm:

Speaking of deliberate pre-figured symbolism, don't forget the 2 Giant Buddha statues shelled to pieces by the Taliban regime awhile back.

By Nick Adams on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 07:50 pm:

I agree Curious. Personally, I think posting Twain's War Prayer at this point in time is both tasteless and pointless, displaying a lack of empathy for victims and a paranoid perception of what America's response will be. This isn't the post-Civil War 19th century and America's current military personnel don't live in it. They know far better than any of those now re-emerging op-ed columnists and pundits(the backseat drivers of reality who now want to design war strategy for us), what an effective military response on global terrorism will and should be. They are the one's actually putting their lives on the line and I don't see any of them running amok with pro-war fervor or rhetoric. They are professionals and will simply try to do the best job they are called upon to do in what will undoubtedly be a long, protracted and incredibly difficult campaign. To not publically support them in this dangerous but necessary work is pure folly or ignorance.
The reason lots of people "over there" hate us is because many of their media, government and religious leaders have been spewing anti-American propaganda at them for much of their lives. Under such a daily assault of mind-warping techniques is it any wonder that rage-filled fanatics should arise? Those are the kind of cultures and countries where material like Twain's War Prayer might actually do some good right now. We also need to be more pro-active in telling those who seemingly hate us who we really are. If we let just the vowed enemies of us define for the Middle-Eastern masses who and what American culture is and represents, then we and our children(and their children) will all be in for an interminable struggle.

By Red Jacket on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 07:33 pm:

Those who cheered the WTC murders are of the same ilk as the American knuckleheads who cheered the bombing of Libya and Iraq and should be dealt with just as harshly.

By Curious on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 06:44 pm:

Yes, (Mark Twain that link is certainly more innocuous than the actual words; after all, not everyone will "click" on the link to read the words than Twain wrote.

On another note, I read on the Internet the question: Why do people hate Americans?

I believe we have had here, advice to suggest that Americans are hated because of their foreign policy.

That said, perhaps we could look at hate crimes in America, and what is said bout them: Usually, the person that is doing the hating is said to be in the wrong.

Curious, then, that when someone other than an American is doing the hating, it is the American citizen who is made to feel like the abuser, the one doing the wrong (with his/her his foreign policy), whereas, if the person accused of "hate" resides in the USA, they are wrong.

I read on-line (link here) that a professor from None-such University is
"against the war". I know I would be assuming, but I would hazard a guess that this professor is also in favor of abortion.

Mark Twain's, "The War Prayer," as the old man spoke it:

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to
battle-be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the
sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us
to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover
their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to
drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in
pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help
us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help
us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended
the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of
the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn
with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it-for our
sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract
their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their
tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it,
in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is
ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid
with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

It is troubling to me, as one raised in a somewhat "Christian" household, to know that I did not feel a quiver of contrition when wars and rumors of wars were talked about during my first 40 years. It is troubling to me that the people who are bothered by the idea of war are not "Christian" but others who, if you asked them, have little or no faith in God.

I recall a time, it had to have been the late 60s, when Cassius Clay, (Muhammed Ali as we know him) refused our country's call. Muhammed Ali is a Muslim. But as I recall, we Christians took Mr. Ali to task for refusing to go to Vietnam, or some such task.

Go figure. Go figure.

(Fishing in the Keweenaw is still great, even if you do slip on a rock and break your fly rod.)

By Sherlock Holmes on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 03:59 pm:

In the end, I suspect U.S. Intelligence will discover that these 19+ men were semi-brainwashed hardcore warriors of a kind of perverse secret brotherhood whose own families didn't even know what they were up to.
Historically, a small percentage of men have always followed this violent gangster-like path of mindless agression against others in part because it makes their own unhappy powerless(and thus power-seeking) lives feel so much more "important".

By Wary on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 03:11 pm:

How could we not be wary of the middle easterners living in the u.s.
Just about all of the neighbors, etc. of the hijackers that had no inkling they were about to do this. They were described as the typical American living next door.
So, naturally we are going to be wary. The guy next door could very well be in on it.
Timothy McVeigh insists the Iraquis were behind his bombing. ??? Makes one think after hearing that Bin Laden has been actively recruiting in the US for followers. Hmmmm... Your neighbor??
When the enemy of our country is among us, it makes for a whole different ball game. IT isn't being rascist. It's human nature to be cautious and wary, probably a little scared also. The people out there commiting hate crimes against anyone they think may be middle eastern are terrorists themselves. But, it can't hurt to be cautious could it?
Right now, our military bases are on lockdown to protect themselves from Bin Ladens followers in our country. There have been people caught attempting things. So, it is still going on against our country and the people we have to protect us.
We could be the all embracing Americans we were a few weeks ago. But, where will we be then???
Think about it.

By Diane Koskela on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 02:23 pm:

moi,

If I were you, I wouldn't trust ANYONE. As you said "...because we don't know who's who. The crazy ones hide amongst the decent."

Ain't that the truth!

By moi on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 09:58 am:

Diane,
I'm not judging them, I'm just not trusting them. You go ahead. Be nice to those who celebrate our grief. They are here at our colleges (not all of them celebrated). Me, I don't have the stomach. I choose to distrust them.

By Mark Twain on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 07:03 am:

By Mark Twain, "The War Prayer"

By Poof the Magic Dragon on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 02:26 pm:

China Update:
Colin Powell and the Chinese Foreign Minister have just concluded a joint press conference in Washington to show that China and the U.S. will be cooperating in the war against global terrorism and in dealing with Afghanistan's Taliban regime. This may well be the best of all possible foreign policy news we can have at this stage of things.

By Diane Koskela on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 12:56 pm:

In my last post I should have said Ayran Nation NOT Aryan Nation. Aryan Nations is actually an anti-hate group who practices "domain name activism" and whose views are just the opposite of the Ayran Nation. Ayran Nation is a hate group whose philosophies are more in line with the KKK and the Nazis. I apologize for the error.

By Diane Koskela on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 12:08 pm:

moi,

Let me be the first to condemn the racist and dangerous talk I hear coming from you. Don't judge all Muslims by the actions of a few, unless you want all Christians to be judged by the actions of the Ku Klux Klan or the Aryan Nation.

By moi on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 11:08 am:

The protesters are wacked. How else can you reason with crazed people? I've heard far too many cases of Muslims in this country cheering when they got the news. One is a Dr. downstate who "hates it here", and will put in his 5 yrs., make his bucks and leave. While we shouldn't hate them all, we also shouldn't trust them - because we don't know who's who. The crazy ones hide amongst the decent. Let 'em in, educate them in detail, and they're off. SOMETHING MUST CHANGE.

By Rush Hashanah on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 03:57 pm:

4 New Towers Envisioned
The operator of the World Trade Center said he is considering building four 50-story buildings in place of the felled twin towers, as well as a memorial to those killed in the attacks. (A.P., 2:23 p.m.)

September 20, 2001
Thursday's Attacks Developments
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 2:17 p.m. ET

-- Islamic clerics urge terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden to voluntarily leave Afghanistan. White House rejects the move and demands action. Clerics also say they are prepared to call for a holy war against the United States if U.S. troops attack.

-- By air and sea, the United States and Britain build military presence in the Persian Gulf. Britain plans joint exercise with Oman, its largest naval deployment since the 1982 Falklands War.

-- Army Secretary Thomas White says Army is ready to conduct sustained land combat operations.

-- Stocks fall sharply on fears of economic repercussions, with Dow dipping below 8,500 for first time in nearly three years.

-- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan tells Congress the attacks produced significant drop in economic activity, but says long-term prospects remain strong.

-- President Bush asks Congress to give airlines $5 billion in cash and help with any lawsuits filed against them.

-- FBI says Nabil Al-Marabh, 34, who is wanted for questioning in the attacks, captured in Burbank, Ill. The FBI had raided Detroit house with Al-Marabh's name on the mailbox and arrested three men after finding false visas and passports and what appears to be diagram of airport flight line.

-- New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani says some victims in wreckage of World Trade Center may never be found.

-- The president of the International Olympic Committee is granted emergency powers, including the ability to cancel next year's Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

-- Federal transportation officials tell Congress that additional security measures are planned at airports.

By what goes around on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 10:45 am:

Tom Cat,

You're right, this is no time to point fingers--there will be plenty of time for that once the flag-waving frenzy dies down.

This IS the time to point guns and take care of the fanatical lunatics who spread evil and hatred under the pretense of religion.

By Tom Cat on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 09:32 am:

What goes around.

This is no time to point fingers. Like it or not we are all in this together. They have killed over 5000 of us ( 2-1/2 times the population of Keweenaw county)and who knows what else they have planned. We must stand together.My heart and prayers goes out to all the family's that have been affected by this attack. Lets all stand behind our President, Military in thease trying times. GOD BLESS AMERICA

The sleeping giant is awake.

Tom Cat

By what goes around on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 09:14 am:

Go Figure,

I agree with you that it's a crazy world....and it's going to get a whole lot crazier.

On the other hand, when you cozy up to snakes, you shouldn't be surprised when you get bit.

By Go Figure on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 - 07:42 pm:

It is a crazy world, goes around. During WWII we fought Germany and Japan. For some time now, they have been among our allies.

We fought a "cold war" with the Soviet Union. I believe Coca Cola and Levi's are a hit back in the U.S.S.R.

We also armed and taught Iraq how to wage war, and we have fought a war with Iraq.

I hope that you go straight to Washington and straighten out our misguided policy. And when you are done, let the rest of the U.S. of A. know what's happening, will yah?

By what goes around.... on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 - 01:01 pm:

Unfortunately, it was the Reagan Administration that pumped billions of dollars into Afghanistan to arm the terrorist army (Taliban) during the Soviet invasion. Isn't it ironic that we will now be fighting a war against an enemy that we have armed? Another example of U.S. misguided policy:

http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/01_columns/052201.htm

By Michele on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 - 01:07 am:

See a follow-up article on the Keweenaw Tip land acquisition project on Keweenaw Issues' Land Use Forum. Thanks to Charlie Hopper for allowing me to publish the article here.

By Semi-Colon Pow-Wow on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 11:53 pm:

Inspiration is Where You Find It

By .f. on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 04:28 pm:

I would like to thank God for the beauty of His creation, for the blessings He has given and for His guidance which I too often ignore.

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
--John Muir

By Rush Hashana on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 02:52 pm:

Just as in the prelude to the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein is now pretending to speak for all of "Islam", deliberately planting the seeds of misinformation(my italics below) in what will likely be a growing propaganda campaign for some kind of Holy War. If he didn't have(at the very least) specific foreknowledge of what occurred on 9/11 in NY and DC than I'm a Ram pickup:

September 18, 2001
Saddam Hussein Says America Is Misguided
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 9:02 a.m. ET
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The United States is using the attacks on New York and Washington as a pretext to settle old scores with Muslim countries, Saddam Hussein said Tuesday.In what was billed as an open letter to Americans, Saddam said differences in foreign policy had led Washington to assume that ``Islam, with Arabs in the lead of Muslims, are enemies of the U.S.''The message, released by the official Iraqi News Agency, is Saddam's second such missive to the American people about the Sept. 11 attacks. The first told Americans their suffering should open their eyes to the pain they've inflicted on others, particularly Iraqis and Palestinians.The United States has identified Saudi exile Osama bin Laden as the prime suspect in the terror assaults. U.S. leaders now are trying to build international support for a possible armed response.``The U.S. has made the charge before verification, even before possessing the minimum evidence about such a charge,'' Saddam said, saying the U.S. accusation was really leveled ``against all Muslim peoples.''Now, he charged, the United States is using ``sheer terrorism and blackmail'' against several countries to win their support, by threatening to add them to the United States' list of nations that sponsor terrorism. Iraq is one of the seven countries on that list.The United States should look to itself when it comes to identifying states that harbor terrorists, Saddam said.``Could the United States tell its people how many organizations working against their own country are existing on the American soil ... and how many of those accused of killing and theft in other countries are now in the United States?'' he asked.He identified no groups, but accused Jews of working to orchestrate a clash between Christianity and Islam.

ps:

September 18, 2001
Afghan Taliban Appeals for Volunteers for Holy War
By REUTERS
Filed at 1:37 p.m. ET
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement Tuesday called for volunteers to fight what it called a jihad, or holy war, if the United States attacked the country.Taliban Interior Minister Mullah Abdul Razzaq, quoted by a Pakistan-based Afghan news service, said people across Afghanistan were getting ready for jihad in view of an anticipated U.S. attack in retaliation for last week's deadly attacks in New York and Washington.``The people who want to fight against kufrshould register their names with the authorities so that they could be deployed at appropriate places when needed,'' he said in a speech over the Taliban's Voice of Shariat radio.

By Poof the Magic Dragon on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 11:59 am:

I don't want to interfere with the ongoing kudos for Mr. Koh's(who no doubt has done his share of good for the Keweenaw along with many many others)but, here's some additional perspective with respect to this "War" we now seem to be declaring on "Terrorism": if the Taliban refuse to give up Osama Bin Laden and America's sends in special forces to retrieve him, KEEP AN EYE ON CHINA.

AP, September 17, 2001
China Official Cautions on Terrorism
BEIJING -- A top Chinese police official cautioned Monday against fighting terrorism with armed attacks that infringe on any country's sovereignty, saying such operations could ultimately make matters worse.
“We are opposed to the disregard of principles of international law in launching armed operations or violence under the pretext of `anti-terrorism' which infringe on the state sovereignty of others,” said Xue Dongzheng of China's Public Security Ministry.
“This could only aggravate terrorism and violence,'' Xue said, according to an official translation of his speech. ``We also maintain that the fight against international terrorism should be based on international law as globally recognized.”

Washington Post, September 15, 2001
China Censors Anti-U.S. Reaction
BEIJING, Sept. 14 -- China's censors have moved to stem anti-American statements and expressions of support for terrorism against the United States that have been posted on government-monitored Internet sites here since Tuesday's attacks in New York and Washington, Chinese sources said today.
Chinese scholars who had expressed dismay at what they termed the callous reaction of some Chinese to the tragedy unfolding in the United States said some of the most offensive statements had been removed from the Internet. "It's improved a lot," said Shi Yinhong, head of the international relations department at People's University. "The debate on those sites has become pretty civilized again."
A Pakistani newspaper, the Frontier Post, and a state-run newspaper in Afghanistan reported Tuesday that an agreement had been signed between China and the Taliban minister of mines. Diplomats and analysts said the agreement was significant because it underscored attempts by China to strengthen ties to the Taliban.

By SpeedTrap on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 09:56 am:

I say "Amen" to Mason's kudos to Mr. Kohs. And, also add kudos to all the others who worked hard and work hard to preserve the Land. I would like to see Something-Someplace, honoring Mr. Kohs with his name on it. His battles aren't over or are any of ours. Everyday is a new happening, rich or poor. We all have choices to make, good or bad and that's what freedom is about. The choice on Mt.Bohemia was--shall we develop a ski-hill and make money, or shall we leave it as God intended. And, the same choice for Keweenaw County--shall we develop irrationally, or try to preserve its beauty for future generations. It's a choice. Land-Use is trying to help you make an educated choice.

By mason on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 12:41 am:

Some may believe it is too soon to return to
early topics but, with the return of Major League
Baseball and other events, I feel comfortable
paying my respect to a solid man and his
contributions to the Keweenaw.

I have previously listed many Mr. Kohs
accomplishments on this site and I would like to
add a few more.

- I would like to thank Mr. Kohs for all of his
hard work in making the State purchase of land
around the point happen.
- I would like to thank Mr. Kohs and wish him luck
in bringing the large copper piece to Keweenaw,
where it belongs.
- I would like to thank Mr. Kohs for his hard work
in hand picking locals to run for several of the
local offices and making a difference.

Too often in history, people don't recognize
greatness until after the fact. We the people of
Keweenaw are lucky that we have someone alive and
well, working to preserve the way of life we are
accustumed to and have grown to love.

By it's still real on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 08:18 pm:

Mr. Kohs has made his money. His battles are over. Now, with the slime dried up, he's a kind,caring, gentle man.
Lonnie ain't made his yet. He is trying. What a scoundrel. I ain't sucking up to no-one who MIGHT make his.
I hope in the next year or so, we don't all know someone who died to protect Mr. Kohs, Lonnie, and the rest of us.
It sure stings a bit, seeing that it's still a cruel, cold world. Guess we haven't yet gotten ourselves to evolve into better, more educated, loving, new world order-types.
We have to retaliate because we are bigger. Right or wrong, agree or disagree, no matter who started it - you came in our yard, and broke our stuff. Here's a bomb. Get it ? You can dance around the sleeping dog, and burn a flag, but don't kick him.

By Osama Big Loogey on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 08:16 pm:

Ollie,
Sounds like you are the kind of judge, jury, and executioner WE look to for leadership in this country. What you are really saying is some reckless driver (obviously guilty, throw him/her away for 90+ days with Kukonon)) ran his/ her (his) car into a building. I agree, however, with your biased, predictable response that it is American behavior. _-c_ Me Running! I'm about as biased as you!

Osama Big Loogey

By its getting real on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 05:19 pm:

We like to say, nowadays, that teachers belong to a "noble" profession. Ufortunately, for myself, it took A tragedy such as last week to realize just how much our fireman/ emergency workers belong in this group. I know A few of them locally, and but for the grace of god, there go they. ( And we know they would go up those stairs.) No disrespect to teachers, mind you.
But, as we opine wildly about what we should/need to do in retaliation, I see A much more noble profession that also now hits close to home. Let's not not forget our soldiers. They're just kids, and they are WILLING !
God bless you, Paul.
Gos bless America.

By Ollie Okbar on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 02:15 pm:

Some idiot in Ohio has rammed his car into a local mosque at about 80 mph according to CNN. This is the kind of sad(but predictable) American behavior that will only strengthen the hand of terrorist ideologies all over the world.

By PAUL EAGLE RIVER on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 12:50 pm:

Mommie, your just about ready to tree yourself.

By moi on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 08:00 am:

When someone does something as horrific as this, we don't need sympathy for the devil! Look to the future- yes, bombing the heck out of the !@#% You can't balance the huge horror with a little nice.

By mamabear on Sunday, September 16, 2001 - 09:46 pm:

Paul, you are small minded and disgusting.
Someone could call you a bad name too.
Get a life , you narrow minded person.
Dont live in the past, look to the future.
Look beyond what you only see on tv.
Not all that you see on TV is actually true.
Cnn is showing things that happened years back.
Hmm.Did you ever look at another viewpoint?
CNN will be in trouble for what they have done.
Inciting the pubic with old photos.

By .c. on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 09:19 pm:

For those wondering how to properly display the flag, here are a few tips:
• U.S. Code outlines the proper procedure for displaying the flag at half-mast or half-staff during a period of mourning.
“The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position,” the code states. “The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.”
• Flags can be displayed between sunrise and sunset. The flag should be taken down at night unless it is properly illuminated. Unless the flag is deemed all-weather, it should be taken down during inclement weather.
• The American flag should be above all state and organizational flags, even at half-staff. If the flag is being displayed with flags of other nations, it should be displayed at the same height and goes to its own right.

By Still Standing Proud on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 03:19 pm:

I did not mean to infer that everyone in this country is Christian.
I meant to emphasize that our country was founded as a Judeo-Christian society. I understand it to mean we all are together under the same God. We all are his children.
Individually we all have our own beliefs on how we attain salvation. Our government was not created to state how we should attain this but gave the freedom to us all to worship in our own way.
Those who use religion to promote hate I feel are obviously do not understand in the least our country's whole foundation. This is divisive, not in the least bit uniting.
History has shown us over again and again the fall of nations because of sanctioning one specific religion. Even though I myself am Christian, that is a belief of my own regarding my soul's salvation. But, this should never be a government concern.

By sad but true on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 02:37 pm:

Still Standing,

I totally agree with your statement that

"We as Americans can be thankful and proud we have the opportunity to worship freely, whatever our faith may be."

And that's EXACTLY the point of the separation of church and state.

Unfortunately, there are too many people (inside this country and out) who use religion as an excuse to legitimize intolerance and hate. Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia are good examples of what happens when a single religion is promoted and state-sanctioned. The punishment for promoting Christianity in Afghanistan is death.

We have freedom of religion in this country and that's a good thing. But not everyone in this country is a Christian. In fact, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and will flourish in America as well. You can quote from the Bible, the Quran, or whatever--but if you're spreading hate, it's still hate.

By Jeff Buckett on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 02:29 pm:

I took this photo of the "In Excelsus Deo" Tower of the National Cathedral in 1969. After watching this morning's service there, I thought the picture's double-message of religious mourning and political readiness to defend that secular freedom which shelters all human faiths equally was appropriate.

By Still Standing Proud on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 01:28 pm:

Sad but True,
I fail to see your view that these men demonstrate the need to keep the separation of church and state. They are not government officials in the least.
Our leaders have shown such a great example of uniting all together under the same God, as was the original intention of our creators. We are a God fearing nation, our laws are based on the old Mosaic laws. We cannot deny that and push that aside without tearing apart the whole foundation of our country.
We as Americans can be thankful and proud we have the opportunity to worship freely, whatever our faith may be. God is, has, and will be our guide.
Individual religous beliefs don't have a place in government functions as a whole, even we Christians are instructed to "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
There will always be fundamentalist "wacko's" for lack of a better term, in any race, religion, or creed, trying forcefuly to push their beliefs on others. But, they are not representative of our beliefs as Americans embracing our fellow Americans as "one nation under God".
God Bless America.

By still sad but true on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 12:50 pm:

Here's a link to a recent article in the Detroit News if anyone is interested in what these two "holy men" said:

http://detnews.com/2001/nation/0109/14/nation-294564.htm

By Jeremiah 3-Thirty-Three on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 12:15 pm:

Sad but true,
I rarely listen to the folk you posted a dead (?) link to. But on Wednesday morning, here, locally, I saw three young adults gathered around a flag-pole, their hands joined, their heads bowed.

On another note, I received a call from a friend whom I hadn't heard from in ages, though I have left messages for my friend and though I have thought about my friend often. I wish my friend would call more often, and not only today.

By moi on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 10:27 am:

Now we have sickos calling in bomb threats, and others soliciting (illegally) donations!! People like this do not deserve to live in America. Why must some people go out of the way to prove what pigs they are?

By sad but true on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 10:01 am:

The recent terrorist attacks by Islamic Fundamentalist extremists should serve as a sobering wake up call for those who fail to see the importance in the separation of church and state.

Yesterday a couple of our "own" Christian Fundamentalists leaders delivered their own spiritual message:

2546%2C00.html,http://www.cbn.com/partner/0,,2546,00.html

Jerry Falwell feels "we probably got what we deserved," and went on further to assign blame for the terrorist attacks on the abortionists who are responsible because they have murdered 40 million innocent little babies. He also blamed gays, lesbians, feminists, and the ACLU.

Pat Robertson stated "God Almighty has lifted his protection of this nation and we are vulnerable." We've been punished because we have taken the Ten Commandments out of our schools, because of pornography, our sexual perversions (homosexuals), and that the highest level of our government has stuck a finger in God's eye.

According to Robertson, "Jesus is coming back and these are the labor pains."

Get the nation on its knees.

By PAUL EAGLE RIVER on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 09:46 am:

speedy, you nuts or what!!! By calling our top dog of the past a traitor you are doing exactly what the SAND PUPPIES WANT!!!!!! REMEMBER DIVIDED WE FALLLLLLL

By Tom Cat on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 09:21 am:

Speedtrap
There are no Demcrats or Replicans now. There are only Americans. We shall get through this. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Tom Cat

By SpeedTrap on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 09:19 am:

Human Being, I am not insinuating, I declare they (the Administration) had to take more time covering up the Oval Office Perversion, Ruby Ridge, Waco, Chinese pals, etc. than they did on imminent danger to this Country--even after real threats occurred. Embassies bombed, a warship attacked, and what do we do, we interview Bin Laden 4 times. What did Clinton do? He attended fund-raisers, pardoned criminals and traitors. Do we still know what is in store for us by the classified information sold to the Chinese (Clinton), do we know what Iraq is doing, because they kicked us out of Iraq, there is nuclear bombs, there is anthrax and germ warfare. Are we awake yet? We plea bargain with traitors. This need not have happened!! Clinton is a traitor and our present Administration should have had him investigated and brought to trial. I say when our enemies look at our apathy and lowered standards, they see us as weak. When we do not hold our leaders to high standards because we have none of our own, we are weak. And we become vulnerable and they use our own planes as bombs and kill us. Please chew on that and choke that down.

By moi on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 07:55 am:

Human Being,
It certainly didn't help to exchange money with China. No, you can't blame the past administration, but they did go a long way to undermine things. Speedtrap had good points, but maybe shouldn't have connected them with this tragedy. These terrorists must be erased. The way to do this may offend some feel-good, no war types, but it must be done to protect our country. I know one thing- the service's morale is much higher under the current administration. That means a lot.

By PAUL EAGLE RIVER on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 06:45 am:

eye for eye comes to mind. For what you give shall come back ten times also comes to mind.

By Human Being on Friday, September 14, 2001 - 06:28 am:

To Speedtrap
HOW DARE YOU EVEN INSINUATE THAT A PAST ADMINISTRATION IS IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ATTACK. THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY WITH MORE DEATHS VERY VERY LIKELY, INCLUDING MANY OF OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN EVEN IN THIS COPPER COUNTRY....IS THE RESULT OF THE WARPED THINKING OF MEN WHO ARE CONVINCED THEY ARE FIGHTING A HOLY WAR. YOU MAY NOT HAVE AGREED WITH FORMER ADMINISTRATION POLICIES, BUT THEY WERE AMERICAN AND LOVE THIS COUNTRY... AND TO EVEN INCLUDE THEM IN THE SAME SENTENCE WITH THESE WARMONGERS IS CLOSE TO TREASON.

By moi on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 11:19 pm:

We've told our family member in the service that we're proud of him for serving us. It's not easy to acknowledge that he's packed and ready to leave, because it's not easy to face the reality of possible outcomes. What can you say? We love you, we're thinking and praying for you, be careful. It sounds so insignificant. To think that some people can be ready to forget already, or tire of the news updates.............

By .b. on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 10:31 pm:

WTC&liberty

By PAUL EAGLE RIVER on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 10:15 pm:

My oldest son is in the airforce. Any advice on what to say to him ? Not a easy time.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!

By Allouez Annie on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 09:08 pm:

To Standing Proud - listening to the car radio today, I heard the editorial you referred to with a music background . Didn't catch the name but the announcer said it was from the mid 70's. Station was WCUP.

By .a. on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 06:48 pm:

wtc3

By Gene Shanahan on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 04:09 pm:

Thanks from the trolls down south.
Gary, you kept us informed, and in touch with the
land we love all year, yet only visit for a
short time. You will be missed.

By Charles Buck on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 10:19 am:

Nice photo Charlie. More news about the Keweenaw land proposal.
Detroit Free Press, "Record spending is urged for land"

By SpeedTrap on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 09:34 am:

I believe if Washington, during this last Administration (Clinton) had paid more attention to the Security and well-being of the people and the Country, instead of self-gratification and power, we would not have seen this happen. They were told by a paid study that terrorism was imminent and they chose to play at Politics and smoke cigars. Many Americans have died to keep our Nation free--Lip service didn't cut it and we paid big-time. When you allow traitors to plea bargain, top secret information to sold to China, etc with the shrug of a shoulder, this is what you get. There are a lot more guilty here than Ben Ladin & his Terrorists. Wake up America, your character is on trial here. Take an interest and vote good men into office, just not the ones that promise you the moon and go there on your money!!!

By moi on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 07:45 am:

Remember to be thankful for our troops. May they survive this. We get to sit and say "Bomb them!", while they do the dirty work. Let us never forget what they do to keep us free.

By former Yooper on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 07:09 am:

D. Berry,

Right on - give them a couple hours, then at the end of that time Bin Laden is not in U.S. Custody - send a few cruise missles/bombers (B-52's) in every hour until he is turned over...

By Khidr on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 03:34 am:

To all those who value and peace and freedom, WE are on YOUR side:

ps: Sorry Charlie...back to local basics soon...great news about the Montreal!

By Charlie H., Still Waters/Pasty Central on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 10:47 pm:

Amid all the sad news the past two days, this evening on the Pasty Cam it was our pleasure to introduce a positive story you might find of interest regarding the tip of the Keweenaw.

By D. Berry on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 09:58 pm:

I see the Afghans are asking us not to attack them. First, turn over Osama bin Laden and all his thugs to the U.S. Then ask.

By AMERICAN on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 09:17 pm:

This is a reprint from a post by Charles Brennen from South Florida on the Trailer Sailor BB. It pretty much says it all:

"Hit The Buildings, Missed America"

An open letter to a terrorist:

Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America. You used helpless American bodies, to take out other American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America.

Why? Because of something you guys will never understand. America isn't about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers, America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies. America is about an IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to, live for the most part, like you envisioned living, and pursue Happiness. (No guarantees that you' ll reach it, but you can sure try!)

Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: "If you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to Americans. We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're free to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're free to say one. Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride. We're a collection of guys that don't agree, called States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world. Another idea, we made up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country. If you're free enough.

Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of the time. That's an unfortunate image to project to the world, but it comes of feeling free and easy about the world you live in. It's unfortunate too, because people start to forget that when you attack Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered badger. The first we knew of the War of 1812, was when England burned Washington D.C. to the ground. Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to, and it's not going to turn out like you think, either. Sorry, but you're not the first bully on our shores, just the most recent.

No Marquis of Queensbury rules for Americans, either. We were the FIRST and so far, only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger. Horrific idea, nowadays? News for you bucko, it was back then too, but we used it anyway. Only had two of them in the whole world and we used 'em both. Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project. Told me once, that right up until they threw the switch, the physicists were still arguing over whether the Uranium alone would fission, or whether it would start a fissioning chain reaction that would eat everything. But they threw the switch anyway, because we had a War to win. Does that tell you something about American Resolve?

So who just declared War on us? It would be nice to point to some real estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we're probably at war with random camps, in far-flung places. Who think they're safe. Just like the Barbary Pirates did, IIRC. Better start sleeping with one eye open.

There's a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country, looking for opportunity, looking for liberty, looking for freedom. Even if they misuse it. The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons, were overjoyed to find out how much freedom there was. First thing they did when they hit our shores, was run out and buy guns. The ones that didn't end up dead, ended up in prisons. It was a big PITA then (especially in south Florida), but you're only the newest PITA, not the first.

You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America, America lives in the US! American Spirit is what it's called. And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit.

Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time.

Sleep tight, if you can. We're coming.

Charles Brennan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Standing Proud on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 08:31 pm:

This is from a Canadian newspaper and IS worth sharing.......
America: The Good Neighbor. Widespread but only partial news coverage
was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by
Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the
full text of his broadcast.
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the
most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the
earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were
lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions
of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries
is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United
States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the
Americans who
propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the
streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When earthquakes hit distant
cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59
American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into
discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing
about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the
erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any
other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet,
the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly
them? Why do all the international lines except Russia fly American
Planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or
woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get
radios.
You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk
about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but
several times - and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the
Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at.
Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on
our streets, and most of them, unless
they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma
and pa at home to spend here. When the railways of France,* Germany and
India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt
them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went
broke,
nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other
people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced
to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even
during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbors have faced it alone,
and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked
around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when
they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are
gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of
those."

By At Half-Staff on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 02:42 pm:

I remember standing at the base of the World Trade Center in September 1975 and looking skyward with awe at it's breathtaking height as crowds of people moved freely every which way around us. I just can't imagine in my worst nightmare what it must have been like to have been standing there when those towering roofs caved in. To those cops, paramedics and firefighters whose job it was to protect, rescue and serve, I am now in even greater awe.
As for those clouded conscienceless eyes who have viewed this immense tragedy with foreknowledge and glee from afar, they must realize, in some now deep buried unstained corner of the human hearts they were once born with, that their roofs too will come crashing down upon them in the name of an all-seeing God whose true nature they have seriously misjudged and whose name they have invoked in vain.

By Charles Buck on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - 02:13 pm:

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund board met and unanimously gave the thumbs up to the Keweenaw land proposal today. The trust fund will draft legislation for the projects it recommended for funding and forward the bill to the legislature for approval. The board recommended funding the $12.5-million Keweenaw proposal in two phases: $5-million this year and $7.5-million next year.

By moi on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - 10:16 pm:

Why do we allow people from countries that preach American hate to come here for education? Do they love us for the 4+ years they're here, then revert when they go back home?

By Bigbrotherbilly on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - 09:19 pm:

Mason

I suspect your nose has a fresh coat of brown on it.

By AMERICAN on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - 05:49 pm:

FlagGif

By moi on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - 08:41 am:

p.s.,
Maybe free beer is all it takes to convince.

By moi on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - 08:39 am:

Mason,
Have you talked to foresters to get the other side of the story on these "horrible" logging practices? I doubt it. Gary doesn't want you to think there may be other truths out there. Educate yourself first, then see who's who. Look at unlogged areas and compare. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

By Mason on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - 01:19 am:

I would like to thank Mr. Kohs and acknowledge
everything he has done for the Keweenaw.
-- Thank you for the school bus for the Copper
Harbor school students.
-- Thank you for providing video cameras to film
the horrible logging practices in Keweenaw.
-- Thank you for providing computers for the
people in Keweenaw.
-- Thank you for providing alternative/internet
job oppertunities for the people of Keweenaw.
-- Thank you for bringing the people of Keweenaw
together, like they never have been.
-- Thank you for restoring the Mendota Lighthouse
and offering to buy the property around it to
preserve that as well.
-- Thank you for bringing in "specialist" from out
of the area to remind the locals on what a nice
thing they have.
-- Thank you for giving the people of Keweenaw the
things they want - Hot Dogs, Free Beer and plane
rides.
-- Thank you for being honest and NOT spreading
lies and other propaganda against Keweenaw
residents.

In about 5-10 years, we will be able to fully
understand and appreciate everything Mr. Kohs did
for the Keweenaw. GOD BLESS!

By Charles Buck on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 08:59 am:

In case you waited until the last minute to send your letter to the trust fund board, here's a list of the names of the board members and the fax number for the trust fund office. Better late then never, and you'll feel better you did it.

By Charles Buck on Monday, September 10, 2001 - 08:24 am:

Heads Up, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board is meeting Wednesday to decide on the land proposals before it. There's a backgrounder in today's Detroit Free Press mentioning the Keweenaw proposal and others.

By Fan O' George on Saturday, September 8, 2001 - 09:41 pm:

Where's George ???
From GEORGE'S EAGLE HARBOR WEB ???

By Diane Koskela on Saturday, September 8, 2001 - 04:25 pm:

I also will miss Michele Anderson's complete, accurate, and unbiased reporting and writing. Compare Michele's coverage of the opening of the Houghton Planned Parenthood Express with that of the Mining Gazette. While the Mining Gazette turned every article into a soapbox for Keith Snyder, Michele did her homework and interviewed the head of the Health Department. While the Mining Gazette maintained that the "story" was the protesters and the controversy, it has been conspiciously silent on reporting about the addition of the protesters' large, gruesome, and graphic posters and that the protesters have now resorted to videotaping people coming and going from the clinic. Hopefully, Michele's hiatus will be temporary and brief.

By Charles Buck on Friday, September 7, 2001 - 10:18 pm:

I would like to add my kudos about that populist writer Michele Anderson. She is one of the best journalists in the UP and ranks up there with some of the writers at the L'Anse Sentinel. She writes about local issues in such depth and detail readers can come away with enough information to get involved. Her pieces have references to and quotes from regulatory statutes people can look up on the internet to check how they apply. Most writers today assume you need a law degree to understand regulations and rarely mention them. The consequence is ordinary citizens become further removed from understanding the governmental processes which affect their lives. Michele assumes readers have common sense and does not forestall the possibility they may want to use their brain to do something. She always tells readers what step in a governmental process is coming next so people can prepare for hearings or know which official to write with their opinion on an issue before it is too late. She took nice clear photographs of the Good Ol' Boys so we all know what they look like. She took lots of photos of extraordinary Joe and Jane Public speaking up and at public meetings, so now we know the Good Ol' Boys do not chase "troublemakers" out of meetings with baseball bats - they have to sit and listen now that there are more of us than them in the room. Would it have been so without Michele's stories? Probably not. I hope her byline returns soon.

By lighthouse_fan on Friday, September 7, 2001 - 10:54 am:

Speed Trap

Some good points. I think no matter what Mr. Kohs does or says, people will find fault with him because he is sucessful and some people simply don't like to see other people succeed or be wealthy, no matter what they do or don't do with their money. That's not to say Mr. Kohs is perfect (anybody who is please step forward), but if you are determined to find fault with someone, you will.
One contribution that he has made to to area that has been serverely overlooked has been the restoration on the Mendota Lighthouse. Just locating restoring the fresnel lens and relighting it as a private aid to navigation is no small feat and requires a large amount of monetary commitment (not to mention other efforts he has made in restoring the structures). One big attraction to the Keweenaw is its lighthouses. When people come up to see them, they stay at the motels, buy gifts, eat in restaurants, etc, etc. (my wife and I have done this several times ourselves). And we always make a point to see the Mendota to see how it has changed (for the better I might add). Usually when a lighthouse is in private hands, the "no trespassing" signs come out. Mr. Kohs has been very generous in opening his up to the public and at least has tried to set aside more parking space so people can park and photograph it. So, don't underestimate the positive impact he has made alone by owning the Mendota Lighthouse.
Probably the most frustrating thing about the KT going down is we don't always know the who, where, and why, and that's how rumors get started. An explanation or statement would have been appropriate and maybe one will come in the near future. Best of luck to Michelle and I hope to read her work in the future.

By Fly on the Wall on Friday, September 7, 2001 - 10:38 am:

In answer to your question, Speed Trap:

1) Broken contract (ask Michele Anderson)
2) Outlandish, over-reaching promises (see Mendota Lighthouse article from October 1998, the part about selling canoe chairs, snowshoes, and lighthouse models to save the people of the Keweenaw. While there, notice the "live cam" and weather are stuck in June.)

Have a nice day.

By SpeedTrap on Friday, September 7, 2001 - 09:18 am:

I personally want to thank Gary Kohs and Michele Anderson for an excellent On-Line Paper. Michele worked hard and professionally to give us our up-to-date, informative articles. I will miss it and it kept us very informed. Why pick on Gary Kohs? He supported this paper for over a year and it provided us with the stamina to get involved and care about the Keweenaw. We all have our little bit of heaven when we live in the Keweenaw, why do you begrudge Gary Kohs his. Gary came to town, bought the ligh=house and shares it with us all, He also shares and stirs us all to love the land and fight for it. Anything wrong so far? He launched the battle against Mt. Bohemia, fights today in Lansing to save Bete Gris South from development. Has aligned himself with the Conservancies and "little" activists like us to save the Keweenaw. Anything wrong so far? What a bunch of babies, can't someone else pick up the challenge and carry on Gary's good works. He has spent a lot of money on his and our efforts, also. So someone please tell me, what is wrong with Gary Kohs?

By Glub-glub-glub on Friday, September 7, 2001 - 02:43 am:

OOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOO
OOOOO
OOO
O

By Jack Dawson on Friday, September 7, 2001 - 01:55 am:

A graceful exit would have won me over, Mr. Kohs. But just plain pulling the plug was a slap in the face to Michele whose good work graced your pages.
You give a bad name to every "environmentalist" who cares about the larger picture of Keweenaw's future.
You've got your piece of Bete Gris beach all to yourself now.
May you find some comfort in that isolation.

By The Professor and Mary Ann on Thursday, September 6, 2001 - 10:20 pm:

GK does deserve thanks. It goes like this: "Thanks, GK, for showing up for the race. Too bad you didn't have what it takes to finish." For starters, a little humility would have helped. Naw, it's not about money - It's about getting along with other people. All it would have taken is a little diplomacy. It's also about integrity - not making promises you can't possibly keep, and keeping the ones you do.

KT went belly up - not for lack of money - but for lack of humility, diplomacy, and integrity on the part of its founder. The one who should REALLY be thanked is Michele Anderson for putting up so long with an ignominious, duplicitous, arrogant egomaniac of a boss. We nominate her for the Dilbert-of-the-Year award.

By Scott on Thursday, September 6, 2001 - 08:43 pm:

Mr 'schroom:
Although I don't agree with all of Gary K's philosiphies on the Keweenaw, don't you think he should be provided some "thanks" for providing us with an alternate news source to the Gazette? Tell me you never viewed his sight and found Michelle's articles interesting and well written.

I'll miss viewing the page...I'm sure you will too.

Gary K. at least gave it a shot.

What have YOU done for the Keweenaw lately ???

By Mushroom on Thursday, September 6, 2001 - 04:32 pm:

Gary K.
You Talk the Talk. You don't Walk the Walk.
Turn off the light, Good night.

By Scott on Wednesday, September 5, 2001 - 08:51 pm:

Is it true ?? No more K Today ??? Can't get there, sayz access forbiddin' something like I don't have the proper credentials... Is it just one of those computer glitches ??? Or is it really gone forever.

By D. Berry on Wednesday, September 5, 2001 - 11:00 am:

14 months.

By grumpy on Wednesday, September 5, 2001 - 10:33 am:

KeweenawToday.com is no more. It lasted just one year.

By In Like Finn!!!! on Tuesday, September 4, 2001 - 08:01 pm:

Whats the matter Big Bro Billy? Lonnie asking for the yurts to be considered permanent structures is as rediculous as a deer blind being considered permanent.

By Bigbrotherbilly on Tuesday, September 4, 2001 - 05:36 pm:

In like Finn,

You're about as funny as flatulance in a space suit.

By Tin Man on Monday, September 3, 2001 - 12:09 am:

You'll have to come and get me, Copper!

By In Like Finn!!!! on Sunday, September 2, 2001 - 11:33 pm:

Hey Heikki"
Wanna go fishing tuesday?
Naw, have too much to do.
What da heck can be more impotent than fishing?
Well, gotta go to dat der health department place in Hancock and see Mr. Fifi Lafleur.
What da heck you seeing him fer?
Well I hear dat dose Yurts that lonnie has on the ski hill could be considered permanent structures and dat way he can get some sewer built for da poop and stuff.
What, so why do you have to go healt department?
Well I figured I will get a permit for a poopie pond for my dear blind. Dat way I wont have to come out of da bush or carry an empty milk carton,I can have it declared a permanent structure, heck it is as permanent as one of dem dere yurts dont ya tink?
Yah, I guess so heikki.

By PAUL EAGLE RIVER on Sunday, September 2, 2001 - 12:46 pm:

REGGIE DAZE ONLY CANS KERMITS KIDS BUS

TODAY ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

seeya

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